ePocrates, a handheld network for physicians, is collaborating with Microsoft's Healthcare Industry Solutions Group to deliver ePocrates access to Pocket PCs. Previously, ePocrates software only ran on handhelds using the Palm operating system.

According to the companies, physicians will now be able to access ePocrates Rx Pro, the premium version of ePocrates' handheld drug reference, using Pocket PC devices. The new application is slated to be updated weekly.

"ePocrates has been a driving force behind the medical community's adoption of handheld devices," says Ahmad Hashem, MD, Microsoft's Global Healthcare Productivity Manager. "We believe that the rapidly expanding community of Pocket PC users will enable ePocrates to deliver their content to a much broader healthcare network."

As part of the Pocket PC launch, Hewlett-Packard is offering a 10% rebate until June 30 to those who purchase an iPAQ and ePocrates Rx Pro.

Currently, over 725,000 healthcare professionals are part of the ePocrates network.